I haven’t been to North Korea, so I can’t compare. But from what I’ve read, Turkmenistan is often mentioned as a strong contender for second place in controlling information—and, to some extent, its own...
Transnistria, or Pridnestrovie, as they like to call it, does not really exist, and they are longing for the USSR. It is a breakaway, self-declared state internationally recognised as part of Moldova. It is...
As in so many ex-Soviet states, marshrutkas (small minibuses) are widely used in Moldova. But hitchhiking is also an excellent alternative. The marshrutkas are not the most comfortable; there is little legroom, and they...
Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, is said to be the poorest capital in Europe. It may not be the most beautiful, but it has charm and warmth. Seen from a Norwegian viewpoint, wanting to...
If you want to see a small country thoroughly, why not set aside a few days to explore it on foot? I set off six days. When I looked up my Lonely Planet book,...
The Indonesian island that the Portuguese gave the name Flores is probably best known for the Komodo dragon. The indigenous Indonesians call the island Nusa Nipa, meaning “Dragon island”. The Komodo National Park is...
Seminyak is closely connected to Denpasar, Bali’s capital, and Nusa Penida, an easily accessible island just outside. On the map, it is not easy to see where Denpasar ends and Seminyak starts, but as...
Ubud was once an important source of medicinal herbs and plants. Today, it is filled with tourists and monkeys. When I started planning my trip to Bali, Ubud wasn’t at the top of my...
If you have seen the sunrise at Mt. Bromo, the sunset at Ijen Crater is a perfect place to explore more of Java’s volcanoes. I booked a trip to Mt. Bromo and Ijen, covering...
Personally, I would say you’re making a big mistake if you don’t do this hike when visiting Indonesia. The sunrise is just amazing. To be lucky with the weather is obviously essential. This is...
